Chapter 38: Joy Fills the Capital City
Chapter 38: Joy Fills the Capital City
“This will do!”
Yang Xin looked at Young Master Wang before him and said with satisfaction.
The latter made muffled sounds of terror.
Poor Young Master Wang was already tied to a makeshift, simple cross. His arms were spread out as he lay flat on the city wall. The heavy rain continued to pour down on him, and his important organ had shrunk almost to invisibility from the cold and fear. It would have been perfect to nail him up there, but Yang Xin could not find nails long enough nearby, so he could only use gentler means to bind him. He had found two discarded wooden beams from the watchtower, tied them together with torn bedsheet strips, stripped Young Master Wang bare, placed him on it, bound his two outstretched arms separately, tied his feet behind, and then tied his legs upward. Success.
But this still didn’t seem enough!
“Such punishment is too light, completely lacking force!”
Yang Xin stroked his chin and muttered to himself.
Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. Being drenched in such heavy rain for half the night, even in summer, would likely cause a serious illness at the very least. Given the current medical standards, it could even be fatal. Meanwhile, from Young Master Wang’s residential neighborhood, flames could already be seen in the darkness. Clearly, the Wang family already knew their master had been abducted. Soon, the neighborhood chief would report it to the Patrol Camp.
“Let’s hang him up first!”
He then shouldered the cross.
Amid Young Master Wang’s desperate struggles, Yang Xin carried the large cross to the watchtower like Sun Wukong carrying a staff. The soldiers were still unconscious. He went straight to the top level. This watchtower had double eaves, meaning there was a roof above another roof, with a half-story structural layer between the two. There was a ladder inside to climb up. To prevent accidents, Yang Xin climbed up first, then pulled Young Master Wang up with a rope. It must be said he had immense strength; lifting over two hundred jin was effortless for him. He thus moved the cross with Young Master Wang tied to it onto the roof beam, crawled along the beam to the edge, secured the rope to the beam, and held Young Master Wang out over the edge…
The latter struggled wildly.
He also tried desperately to push out the small undergarment belonging to his concubine from his mouth with his tongue, but his efforts were ultimately futile. Helpless, he looked at Yang Xin with pleading eyes.
“Ah, what are you saying? You say I forgot something?”
Yang Xin immediately pretended to lean in and listen.
Then he left Young Master Wang there. The latter, along with the cross, was balanced right between the inside and outside. With just a slight struggle from Young Master Wang, the cross lost balance and slid outward, scaring him into instant stillness. But when the wind blew outside, he unavoidably slid inward again. Below was still a floor four or five meters high. He swayed there like a seesaw, teetering between severe injury and death.
However, Yang Xin did not notice this. He found a silver ingot from the bag of gold and silver jewelry, pulled a hemp thread from his clothes, tied it on, and made a slipknot at the front…
“You’re right, I almost forgot!”
Yang Xin said with a smile.
Then, under Young Master Wang’s terrified gaze, he slipped the noose over a certain place.
Young Master Wang struggled frantically as if avoiding a venomous snake, and his struggles caused the cross to immediately slide downward. Yang Xin gave it a push, and in an instant, the cross slid to the end along with the pushed-away broken tiles, suddenly shooting out past the eaves and falling downward. The rope, originally used on the city wall for hanging wolf-tooth beaters, was sturdy enough. It tightened abruptly with the impact of his fall. Of course, the thin hemp thread tied to the ten-tael silver ingot also tightened simultaneously. Young Master Wang was thus suspended in mid-air, facing the interior of the city like a wind chime. Below him were the two stories of the watchtower, and below that was the towering city wall, at least twenty-five meters from the ground. Hanging nearly eight stories high, he looked down and struggled incessantly…
“Young Master Wang, take it easy. If you fray the rope, you’ll fall to your death!”
Yang Xin shouted.
Young Master Wang instantly stopped moving.
“That’s it, keep it up. Probably someone will see you tomorrow morning, and then you can be rescued. Don’t move! If the rope frays, you’ll be smashed into pulp!”
Yang Xin said approvingly.
After saying this, he picked up the bag of gold and silver jewelry, hummed a tune cheerfully, and quickly descended the city wall. Below, he admired Young Master Wang’s figure for a moment before turning to leave. Soon, he returned to Xianyi Neighborhood. From the bag of gold and silver jewelry, he threw all the accessories, except for a few gold and silver ingots, into the courtyards of poor households he passed. Robbing the rich to help the poor was something he still had to do. After finishing, he took off all his clothes, tossed the wet garments into a poor household’s home, and even discarded his shoes. Then he quietly slipped back to his residence. Xiaocao, whom he had tricked into drinking a calming potion, was still sleeping soundly. He silently entered his bedroom, wiped himself clean, went to bed, and slept until just before dawn…
“Five-City Military and Police are searching for the thief!”
The shouting outside woke him.
In the red glow of the morning clouds, with a grumpy, just-woken look, he pushed open the window…
“Will you ever stop? Do you think I, Yang, am easy to bully? Should I go find your Deputy Commander Xu for a good chat again!”
He roared fiercely.
As he spoke, he took out the ink treasure brocade box again and pointed it at the leading official.
The latter snorted coldly.
“So this is the treasure-offering Young Master Yang? What an honor. I am Xue Zhen, Western Censorate Inspector. Last night, bandits committed a violent act, broke into a home at night to rob valuables, and abducted a Government Student whose whereabouts are still unknown. Residents of Xianyi Neighborhood discovered clothes worn by the perpetrator. I am conducting a search here. I apologize for disturbing Young Master Yang’s peaceful sleep!”
he said.
“Not targeting me?”
Yang Xin said in surprise.
“All residents within Xianyi Neighborhood must undergo inspection. Also, please show your Travel Pass, Young Master Yang.”
Xue Zhen said.
“I don’t have a Travel Pass. As for the reason, I’ve already explained it to His Majesty. If you don’t believe me, go ask His Majesty. If this is not intentionally targeting me, then as a law-abiding citizen of Great Ming, I am very happy to cooperate. Xiaocao, hurry up and open the door for the officers!”
Yang Xin said.
He had told Wanli that he did not know his place of origin, meaning he certainly did not have a Travel Pass on him…
Of course, he knew Xue Zhen would not go ask.
Xiaocao quickly opened the door.
Xue Zhen led the soldiers in swiftly. Although he claimed it wasn’t targeted at Yang Xin, he clearly came straight for him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come so early. The household that found the clothes, then reported it, Xue Zhen bringing people over—if not specifically for Yang Xin, it wouldn’t be this fast. The soldiers searched the room meticulously, with a thoroughness as if digging three feet into the ground. Yang Xin didn’t mind at all. Xue Zhen stared intently at him, trying to detect something from his face, but he clearly underestimated his opponent. Yang Xin also looked back at him with an innocent expression…
“Investigator Xue, I don’t appreciate this kind of exchange!”
Yang Xin said righteously.
Xue Zhen took a deep breath, and the soldiers reported to him one by one that they found nothing.
“Where were you last night, Young Master Yang?”
he asked.
“Investigator Xue, with such heavy rain, what else could I do besides sleeping at home?”
Yang Xin said discontentedly.
“Is what your master said true?”
Xue Zhen asked Xiaocao.
The latter nodded blankly.
“Lying will land you in jail.”
Xue Zhen shouted.
Xiaocao’s eyes reddened, and she immediately burst into loud sobs.
“Investigator Xue, what is the meaning of this? Do you want to force her to lie? Although we are commoners, Great Ming has His Majesty, has Her Majesty the Empress, and is not a place where cruel officials can act arbitrarily. Investigator Xue, with your senior status, aren’t you ashamed of bullying a young girl?”
Yang Xin said angrily.
As he spoke, he hefted the brocade box.
Xue Zhen snorted coldly.
At that moment, a minor official from outside ran in breathlessly, went straight to him, and without even performing the proper greeting, said, “Reporting to the Censorate Office, we found the Government Student Wang!”
“Where?”
Xue Zhen said urgently.
“He’s, he’s… You’d better come see for yourself!”
the minor official said sorrowfully.
Xue Zhen immediately left Yang Xin and hurried away with the soldiers. However, Yang Xin followed closely behind and also went out. Just outside the door, he saw a crowd of idlers excitedly running outward, shouting as they ran. Even the prostitutes and pimps from the western courtyard came out. Then, among the crowd, Yang Xin actually saw Fang Shihong. This guy was on horseback with his household servants, driving away those blocking the way while excitedly galloping forward. As he passed by, Yang Xin grabbed his saddle. Before Fang Shihong could react, Yang Xin had already leaped up and landed directly behind him on the horse…
“Who are— uh, aren’t you Seventh Sister’s man?”
Fang Shihong turned his head and said in surprise.
“Eldest Young Master Fang, aren’t you afraid she’ll hear that?”
Yang Xin said speechlessly.
“Ha, afraid of what?”
Fang Shihong said with a hint of lingering fear.
Clearly, he was somewhat fearful of this cousin too. Both branches of the Fang family were full of frivolous young masters. Only Fang Tinglan had some talent in managing the family business. Even Fang Congzhe relied on her quite a bit; otherwise, he wouldn’t have readily offered the Terrestrial Globe just because she asked.
But then his gaze fell on Xue Zhen’s back.
“Dammit, that dog!”
he said through gritted teeth.
“You two have a grudge?”
Yang Xin said puzzled.
“Last year, it was this dog who kept hounding me, causing me to lose my official post. My father almost lost his position as Chief Grand Secretary because of it!”
Fang Shihong said through clenched teeth.
Yang Xin casually plucked a green pomegranate from an overhanging branch of a pomegranate tree by the roadside, showed it to Fang Shihong, and then threw it at Xue Zhen’s horse’s leg. The latter had just urged his horse forward. The green pomegranate hit the stepping hind leg’s joint squarely. Thrown with Yang Xin’s strength, it was no less powerful than a slingshot, especially since this old variety of pomegranate was as hard as stone. The horse whinnied in pain and immediately sat back. Xue Zhen cried out in alarm and tumbled from the horseback. Fortunately, soldiers nearby caught him quickly, preventing him from hitting the ground.
Fang Shihong’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Inspector Xue, tired from last night’s work? Can’t even ride a horse properly!”
He hurriedly urged his horse over and looked at Xue Zhen, saying triumphantly.
“Inspector Xue’s physical condition is concerning!”
Yang Xin said in deep agreement.
Then the two rascals laughed smugly, urged their horses, and rode off proudly. Behind them, Xue Zhen looked gloomy and hatefully whipped that horse.